PARAMARIBO – Minister Mike Noersalim of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (LVV) officially launched the markoesa project in Saramacca on Thursday, an initiative aimed at directly supporting farmers and stimulating agricultural production.
With the project, the ministry not only wants to strengthen the agricultural sector, but also contribute to economic growth and poverty reduction. Future agricultural entrepreneurs will be trained to produce for sale to processing companies, among others.
Minister Noersalim emphasized during the launch that the emphasis is on implementation rather than preparation. According to him, it is time to convert plans into concrete actions that should lead to visible results on the ground and actual economic growth.
President Jennifer Simons underlined the importance of production development within society. She indicated that the government wants to combat poverty by stimulating production and linking social projects to economic activities, so that people can generate income independently.
The head of state called on citizens to take advantage of the opportunities within the agricultural sector. According to her, agriculture remains an indispensable sector in which people can grow together and work on their own economic independence.
President Simons further indicated that the government considers collaboration with partners and local communities important to enable sustainable development and to actively involve more people in the agricultural sector.
District Commissioner Aniel Ramautar also expressed his appreciation for the broad involvement in the project and thanked all those present for their efforts and support.
Minister Noersalim also pointed out the importance of market-oriented production. He stated that the project will help meet the existing demand for markoesa, while at the same time reducing imports. Producers would also be assured of sales.
To make the project successful, the Ministry of LVV also invests in education and targeted training, so that farmers receive immediate support and can achieve results faster.
With the launch of the markoesa project, the ministry is taking an important step towards strengthening national production and sustainable economic development in Suriname, according to those involved.
